Meet Bradley, an Engineering Graduate

What skills and experiences have been most valuable?

Networking and being able to form the connections within the business as well as outside it. I was able to improve these skills and now I am able to make connections within the different departments of Rolls-Royce and get the information I need to complete my job.

How has your responsibility grown?

Yes, my responsibility has increased. I was at first given a lot of work from other colleagues but now I am responsible for whole systems by myself and am responsible for working out any problems that arise from these.

Is there a pivotal moment that stands out?

Yes, anytime I had to switch secondments whilst I was working within the business. Before working, I was used to the behind the scenes work being done for me, but this time I was responsible for sorting out every move for myself, which gave me real responsibility.

What does a typical week look like?

I usually get to the office around 7:30 and leave between 3 and 4pm. I can work from home, and I usually do this on a Friday.

Outside of work I have a busy social life which hasn’t really been affected by my work. I can travel, see friends and practice my music. My role fits around this as it gives me ample time off to be able to do these things.

What happened at the end of your graduate programme?

Once my graduate role was done, I had an informal interview with the head of the department that I wanted to return to. This took a few hours and a presentation from myself for them to agree on my start date and responsibilities.

How has Rolls-Royce invested in you for the long term?

Aside from providing the sponsorship for me during my whole two years on the programme, it has shown that it’s invested in me by allowing me to get my chartership.

Are there any common misconceptions you’d like to address?

The main thing most believe, including myself at first, is that the graduate programme is only for STEM subjects. Most of my friends I made throughout the graduate scheme were not specialised in STEM subjects, but roles were still available for them.

Anything you’d like to add about your experience?

The people I connected with in my two-year scheme, I still have connections with, and they will stay close for my working life, which I think is one of the biggest draws for the scheme I was part of.